Cable terminal



Dec. 5, '3.950r D. J. NEALE 2,53337 CABLE TERMINAL Filed oct. s, 1945 2sheeheet 1 INVENTOR.

` .Pa/y. J /Vw/e ATTR/VEYS.

D. J. NEALE CABLE TERMINAL Dec. 5, 1950 2`Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 8,1945 Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE `1 Claim. (Cl.285-194) This invention relates to a cable terminal for making serviceconnections with telephone or similar lines contained within the cableand has for its principal object to provide a terminal that is readilyapplied to a cable and al1 connections made Without the necessity ofsolder joints.

Other objects of the invention are to provide gas-tight connectionswhere gas is used in a cable and to exclude moisture, dust and otherelements likely to interfere with operation of the cable circuits; toprovide a cable terminal having separate cable and servicecompartmentsvvwhereby service connections can be made at any time withinthe service compartment without opening the cable connectioncompartment; to provide`a cable terminal adapted for support on thecable messenger; and to provide a cable terminal wherein an anchorage onthe messenger is maintained by the lashing wire which secures the cableto the messenger.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention hereinafterpointed out, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form ofwhich is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cable equipped with a terminalconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section through the terminal on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1. v

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1, particularlyillustrating the sealing elements for maintaining a gas-tight connectionbetween the sheath of the cable and the cable terminal.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the parts of the packing glands shown inspaced relation.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cable terminal from the sideopposite to that shown in Fig. 1, with a part being shown inlongitudinal section to better illustrate the cable connectingcompartment and the sealing elements at the ends thereof. l

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through the cable terminal.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the packing elements.

l vReferring more in detail to the drawings:

` I-designates an ordinary telephone cable including a sheath 2containing a plurality of circuit wires 3 which connect subscriberstelephones with various exchanges in a telephone system. The cable I issupported from a messenger 4 by a wire lashing 5 applied spirally aroundthe cable and messenger in accordance witlithe present practice. Atvarious stations along the length of the cable it is necessary to makeconnections with the wires 3. The methods of making such connectionsprior to the present invention involved solder joints and requiredconsiderable time and skilled workmanship; however, the cable terminalconstructed in accordance with the present invention and designated 6 onthe drawing, is readily applied without the necessity of solderconnections or joints.

The terminal E includes a housing having two main sections 'I and 8,each having semi-cylindrical walls 9 and I0 provided with coextensiveflanges I I and I2 on the opposite edges that are secured together byfastening devices I3 to form a sleeve-like body I4 of larger innerdiameter than the outer diameter of the cable sheath. The fasteningdevices I3 have heads I5 for engaging the outer side of one of theflanges and threaded Shanks I6 adapted to be threaded into registeringopenings in the flanges for drawing the sections together and close thejoint therebetween'. The heads I5 are preferably provided withtransverse openings Il through which sealing wires I8 are extended toprevent accidental displacement of the fastening devices. The sectionsare of sufficient length to form a compartment I9 in which the wires 3are exposed for connection with binding posts later described and toprovide packing compartments 2| and 22 at the ends thereof for receivingthe packing elements later described. The compartments 2| and 22 areseparated from the compartment I9 by internal ilanges 2K3 and 24 andwhich when the sections are together form openings and 26 to snugly fengage the ends of the cable sheath as shown in Fig. 5. The packingelements include spit washers 21 and 28 adapted to seat against theouter faces 29 of the respective flanges 23 and 24 with the abuttingends 30 (Fig. 5) of the Washer sections staggered with respect to thejoint between the housing sections 'I and 8.

The washers 21 and 28 cooperate with the washer-like glands 3I to retainpacking 32 therebetween. The glands 3l are formed of substantiallysemi-circular sections 33 and 34 as shown in Fig. 4. The ends of thesections are shaped to provide tongues 35 on one section adapted tooverlap similar tongues 36 on the other section when the sections arebrought together about the cable as later described. The packingsconstitute a resilient sleeve 31 having an inner diameter substantiallycorresponding with the outer diameter of the cable sheath and an outerdiameter corresponding with the'inner diameter of the compartments 2Iand 22 respectively. To permit application of the sleeves, the side wallthereof is provided with a bias cut 38 whereby the sleeves may be openedto pass them over the cable as later described. In order to compress thepacking and effect a gas-tight, solderless seal about the sheath of thecable and the inner circumference of the compartments 2 l4 and 22, thepacking glands 3|, packing sleeves and split washers 28 are providedwith registering apertures 39, and 4| respectively which are adapted tobe reg-f istered with internally' threaded' sockets 42 in the internalflanges 23 and 24. Extending through the registering openings are Shanksof cap screws 44 having threaded terminals 45 adapted to engage in theinternally threaded 4 engage the hook from the thumb screw 62 while theother end of the cover is maintained in pivoted connection with thethumb screw 63.

The binding posts 29 have heads 13 forming annular shoulders 'I4 withthreaded shanks 15. The heads 13 are tapered as at 16 and transverselyslotted as at Ti to receive a circuit wire 3 which is clamped therein bybending the portions of the head inwardly to constrict the entrance sideof the slot. and'. form an electricalV connection withthe circuit 'wiresas later described.

The binding posts are mounted in openings 1:8`l of the partition plate,the openings being arviously stated, the openings are 'so' arranged thatwhen the packings are assembled the joints be.

tween the washer sections and the bias cut in the packing sleeves, aswell as the: joint between the terminal sections, arey staggered-withrespect lto* eachother as bestrindicated in Fig.` 5. rl.`heheadsY ofthecapfscrews 44 are also provided with trans-- verse openings 4.1tofreceive-wires 48.

A portion ofthe compartment |19 inthe terminal section 'lr has asubstantially rectangular extension 49 formed by providing. theysection't with laterally extending upper and lower. wal-ls, 59: and .5l andendzwalls 52' and 53 adjacent the internal-anges23 and 24. The rectangularside ci. the lcompartrnerlt- I'S is` closed by a partition. pla-te 5t'which seats aga-inst` an internal mare ginal flanger 5'5- projecting:-inwardly fromthe walls 50e-5l and 52-53Uas bestshown inligs. t

2. and 6; The partition 54- is preferably formedof insulating material;and isretained in sealingv contact with the` marginal flanges byfastening devices having shanks thereof extending through the partit-ionplate and engaged in*- threaded sockets formed within bosses 51- formedwithin the terminal section'l as show/ny inf Fig. 2. The walls 5l35|vandy lu2-531project-outwardly from the partition'. plate to form.. aservice. connecting compartment 58\ wherein service wires may be=connected .with the binding' posts 2@ withv out opening up thecompartment I9, The walls forming the compartment 5S' terminate at theircuter edges in a seat 55- for a cover plate 68 toclose the outer side ofthe compartment. The' cover plate 60 is preferably provided; with a margina-l flange Si adapted to-over1ap the outer sides of the. compartment,walls as shown in Figs. 2y and 5;v whereby the cover. is placed inposition and secured byv fastening devices-62 and tfat the re spectiveendsl thereof. In the illustratedinstance.; the fastening.' devices $3are shown as thumbscrews having threaded Shanks 64v extending throughopenings 65 providedinl ears 5&5v and 61j extending from thel ends ofthe. cover plate.

Cooperating with the ears 66 and 6T arevears llandE E9 which extendoutwardly from the-.end Walls 52 and 53` andl provided with threaded-'openings it registering with openings G4 tore-- ceive the terminal endsofthe thumb screws as shown in Fig.v 6;v Y

'Io facilitate attachment of the; coverv one ofk the: ears thereof maybe provided with a slot il extending outwardly from' the opening thereintonform'. a hook. engaging withA thev thumb-;.screw atv that. end ofthecover.. With this arrangement; itis onlyv necessaryl to release thethumbscrewssuicient for,` the nange 6+ of the cover to clear. the; wallsof the connectingcompartment where-- upon` the. cover mayl Vne swunglaterally-to; dise` ranged in upper and lower rows with the openings inone row staggered with respect to the :openings irrthe other row so thatthe binding .postare spaced to facilitate connection of the servicewires 19. The openings 18 at the ends connecting with the compartment 58closely engage the threaded Shanks of the binding posts but the`oppositesides are counterbored 1to= provide an lannular seat fortheshoulders 14 of the heads 13. The heads of the bindingl posts` are drawninto sealing contact with the respective -f shoulders by nuts 86threaded on the shanksof:

the binding postsV as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The service wiresmayhavewasher-like terminals 8| sleeved over the threaded posts betweenwashers. 82 which areclamped thereagainst by draw nuts Si! threaded onthe Vbinding posts asv shown in FigeZ. Theoutlets or the service wires'19 are. provided by avseries of openings l'iv formed in the.- lowerwall 5 andin an integra-l rib 8l. projecting; downwardlyl andAyextendingY along the'. length;

i thereof. The openings Sli-are counterbored asat SB-to. receive-sealingdisks, or washers 3S which are retained in sealingl contact withshoulders. Si!) by bushings- Sl. The bushings 91 have'openn ings 92vvfor passing' the service wires' 'l there through and have threadsengaging threads; the .outer-portions ofthe counterbore openings. Thebushings have polygonal-shaped heads S3 byI which they maybereadilyengaged by a wrench; or the liketo screw the bushing intoand'out. of. position. The cover for the service connectioncompartmentmay be tormed of relatively light material.l and. suitablyreinforced onthe exterior. side by ribs 94. In order to; anchorthe-terminal.` for sugppOr-t'byy the messenger, the upper` flange forthe section i5 has an. upwardly extending-I w-ing-QS adapted'toengagebetween themessenger 4 'and lashing wire 5v as shown in; Figs. 1-, 2 and5. 'II-heends of the wing" have slots andY Si! tore*lv ceive-the lashingtherein whereby the lashing is prevented from slipping over thetop ofthe wing.

If desired, one end of the terminal may beprovided with a bracket iliiyhavingI a ring-shaped terminal A99 through which the service wires 1%maybe passed and suitably secured as in, cus*- tomary practice.,

In applying the terminal to a cable, the sheatlt 2 of the cable l is cutat points spaced. apart-a distance'somewhat less than the space betweenthe flanges 23 and 24. The section of the-sheathbetweenl the points oi'cut is removed to expose the wires 3. The wing on the housing section 3is then inserted between the lashing wire and the messenger so that thelashingV wire enters thel slots B6 and 9i. The housing section 8 is thenswung toa position so that the vcable I seatswithin the. flanges 23 -and2liv thereof. Selected wires 3 are then.- separa-tedfrom the .bundleofwires in the; cable and secured to their respective binding posts 28.This is effected by removing1 15. the: nsnlationfwhere the Wire:isinapOSitOn-tfr cross the selected post and sliding the wire into theslot 'H of that post, after which the portions of the post on therespectivesides of the slot are pinched together to grip the wire andform an electrical connection therewith. The housing section 'l is thenapplied so that the anges Il thereon seat against the flanges l2 withthe openings in the flanges in registry. The fastening devices I3 arethen applied to draw the sections into sealing contact and the ilanges24 and 25 into contact with the sheath of the cable I.

The sealing wires I8 are then passed through the fastening devices il asshown in Fig. 5. The sectional Washers 2? and 28 are then applied overthe cable and moved together to form washers therearound which arepushed Within the open ends of the packing compartments so that theyseat against the outer faces of the internal anges 23 and 24, care beingtaken to see that the openings 4l register with the threaded sockets inthe flanges. The rubber sleeves 3? are then spread apart so that thebiasshaped ends thereof will pass over the cable. The sleeves are thenpushed into the packing compartments 2l and 22 with the openings 49therein registering with the openings 4l. The gland rings 3| are thenassembled about the cable and passed into the packing recesses so thatthe openings 39 therein register With the openings 49 in the packingsleeves. The fastening devices 44 are then inserted so that the Shanks43 project through the registering openings and are turned to screw thethreaded ends 42 into threaded sockets 45 until the heads 46 draw thegland rings 3l into pressing contact with the packing sleeves 3l.Pressure of the gland rings presses the packing sleeves into sealingcontact with the cable sheathing 2 and into sealing contact with theWall of the packing chambers 2l and 22 so as to form gas-tight jointstherebetween. The Wires i6 are then passed through the openings 41 inthe heads 46 of the fastening devices and the ends of the Wires securedtogether as shown in Fig. 1.k

When the terminal is assembled on the cable as described the cablecompartment I9 thereof is gas-tight and is in communication with theinterior of the cable so as to retain the gas ordinarily used in suchcables.

When it is desired to connect service Wires '19, the cover 6l) isremoved by loosening the Wing nuts 62 and 63 so that the iianges 6l onthe cover will clear, after which the hook ear 66 of the cover is swungaway from the thumb screw 62, while the cover pivots on the other thumbscrew 63. Removal of the cover exposes the stem ends of the bindingposts 20. Since the openings 89 have been closed by compressible disks(not shown), it is necessary to remove such disks, through which theservice Wires are to be projected. This is eiected by removing thebushing 9| and then the disk. Compressible washers 89 are then sleevedover the ends of the service wires and the ends of the service Wiresproject through the openings 86 so that the Washers seat upon theshoulders 90, the bushings 9| having previously been threaded over theservice Wires. The

service wires are then secured to the proper binding posts 13. Theresilient washers 92 are then tightened about the service Wires uponinsertion of the bushings 9| so as to form a gastight seal therearound.If desired, the service Wires may be laid within the ring 99 and securedby suitable clamps (not shown).

Since gas is used in the cables this gas may be inserted through asuitable connection indicated at |99 (Fig. 6). After the service Wiresare connected the cover is re-applied to complete assembly.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a cable terminalthat is of simple construction and readily applied without the use ofsolder joints.

It is also obvious that the terminal when installed in gas-tight andleak-proof from al1 exterior elements.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A cable connector including a housing composed of mating sectionsadapted to be assembled about a cable, each section having semi-circularends cooperating to provide cylindrical sockets, internal flanges onsaid sections dening bottoms for said sockets, said sockets beingadapted to encircle a cable, said anges having internally threadedopenings therein, fastening means securing said sections together,resilient cylindrical sleeves having bias slits disposable about a cablewithin said sockets, said sleeves having longitudinai openings inregistry with said threaded openings, washers comprising circularsegments adapted to be assembled about the cable and disposed Within thesockets in following relation with respect to the resilient sleeves andhaving openings registering with the longitudinal openings in saidsleeve, said segments having overlapping ends, and headed fasteningmeans engaging the segments and including threaded Shanks extendingthrough said registering openings and distorting said sleeve intosealing contact between said cylindrical sockets and the cable.

DORY J. NEALE'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 965,684 Bierce et al July 26,1910 1,260,998 Black Mar. 26, 1918 1,420,217 Richards June 20, 19221,680,940 Emmons Aug. 14, 1928 1,862,811 Strong June 14, 1932 1,917,242Emmons July 11, 1933 2,297,824 Bissell Oct. 6, 1942 2,299,607 AuerbachOct. 20, 1942 2,361,215 Lamberger Oct. 24, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 850,004 France Aug. 28, 1939

